A method and apparatus are presented for detecting the presence of ghost signal contamination of a video signal by examining the picture information interval of the video signal. A baseband video signal is detected and examined to detect signal transitions. Transitions of the main video signal of a given polarity will be followed by corresponding transitions of a ghost signal. The time intervals between ones of the transitions are measured and stored. If a ghost signal is present, the time interval between corresponding ghost and signal transitions will occur more frequently than the relatively random time intervals between transitions of the main signal and the ghost signal considered separately. By correlating the time interval measurements, the recurring time interval between corresponding main and ghost signal transitions can be identified. This information may then be used to adjust the delay of a delay line in a ghost cancellation system.